Side frame and journal-box mounting



Feb. 18, 1930.

P. R. DRENNING SIDE FRAME AND JOURNAL B0X MOUNTING 2j Sheets-Sheet 1Filed oct, 7, 192e Feb. 18, 1930. P. R. DRENNING 1,747,971

SIDE FRAME AND JOURNAL BOX MOUNTING y. theside frames of trucks of thatvariety inv 1 UNITED; 'STATES PATENT Patented Feb. 18, 1930 FICE BERCYViR. DRENNING, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS,T. H. SYMINGTON AND' PORATION OF MARYLAND SON, INC., 0F BALTIMORE,MARYLAND, A COR- SIDE FRAME AND JOURNAL-BOX MOUNTING `Application ledOctober 7, 1926. Serial No. 140,183.

The rinvention relates to side frame construction and journal boxmou'ntings for `use in connection with or forming parts of a railway cartruck, particularly of the freight car type. .1, ,n y v Y,

The principal object yof the invention, gen- Y erally stated, is toprovide cushioning means v for the Vjournal boxes used in connectionwith whichthe truck bolster isordinarily spring supported, the provisionof cushioning means for the journal boxes acting to increase the springcapacity for the car so that heavier loads may be carried without thebringing of undue .stresses or lstrainsupon any of the parts. l n Y fAnother object of the invention is toprovide spring ysupporting meansfor journal boxes in a. truck side frame of the arch bar type, the'springs in connection with the journal boxes operating in conjunctionwith the bolster'supporting springs but having a differentperiodicity'so as to avoid synchroni'smv of vibration in the bolstersupporting springs andy journal box springs so that there will beatendency to eliminatevertical jiggle and to reduce any tendency of thecar to develop a' roll or side sway.

vA more specific object of the invention isk to provide journal box'cushioning means in which guide means is provided for the cushioning orspring members to insure maintaining them in proper position and againstaccidental displacement atany and all times.

Another 'objectl of the invention is the provision of'spring meansemployed in conjunctionwith side frames of the pedestal or other typeusing separable journal boxes, the spring meansbeing adapted to beconfined between the journal boxes and adjacent portions of the sideframes and being, in some instances, capable of being enclosed withinthe' side frame and consequently protectedy against damagefand againstthedeteriorating effects of the weather.

A Vstill further object isy to provide cushion forfabsorption means inconjunction with the ajournal boxesfformed as a bank or group of platesprings which not only provide resilience but `.which 4,actals'o todevelop a certain amount of friction, the combination of the resilienceand the -frictionacting to absorb sudden shocksand jars in addition tosteadying the action and increasing spring capacity.

A still further object of the invention is 'to provide a structure ofthis character in which the journal boxes are mounted for verticalsliding movement with respect to the side frame, spring means beingprovided for opposing the sliding movement in one direction, and guidemeans being provided for preventing the journal boxes from moving in anydirection other than vertically.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a structure of thisycharacter which will be comparatively simple and inexpensive tomanufacture, easy to install, positive in action, eflicient and durablein service, and a general improvement in the art.

`With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the inventionpreferably consists in the arrangement and combination of parts anddetailed structural features to be hereinafter more fully described andclaimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of a portion of a truck frame and journalbox mounted therein in accordance with one form of the presentinvention,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevation show,- ing a slight modification,

Figure 3 is a view showing a modified form of spring, f

Figure 4 is a side elevation of a portion of a bolster equippedwithjournal boxesl of the pedestal type, the vinvention being shownapplied, f

Figure 5 isa detail horizontal cross section taken on the line 5-5 ofFigure 4, f f

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view show# ing a different springretaining means,

lFigure 7 is a side elevation of-one half of a side` frame showing adiiferent spring mounting-for the journal boxes, l

Figure 8 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 88 of Figure 7, thejournal box itself being shown in elevation, and

Figure 9 is an end view of the side frame.

Referring morev parteiularly to the draw- Y is illustrated as it isentirely sutiicient to give a thorough understanding oi the invention.Each sidel of the side frame or each end is formed With an extendingportion 4 beneath which is mounted the journal box 5. This box may be ofany ordinary or preterred type.

in most respects though it is of special construction in other respectsfor cooperation with guide means to be described.

The guide means for each journal box may conveniently comprise an arm ortie bar 6 riveted or otherwise suitably securedV at 7 toa bracket orroot piece 8 on the side trame, this arm 6 being apertured t'or thepassage oit a sl-arality of bolts 9 which are arranged in verticalposition and which extend through suitable holes 10 in the extension 4.The arm or tie bar 6 is horizontal and may be resilient. In the presentinstance the bolts 9 are represented' as having heads 11 at their lowerends and their threaded upper ends carrying nuts l Which may be of thecastellated type for cooperation with cotters or the like provided'L'orpreventing relative movement and separation. rlhe journal box isvertically slidably mounted with respect to these bolts 9 and isprovided at its opposite sides With lugs or ribs i3 which cooperate Withthe guide bolts. Clearly the journal box may move vertically but it Willbe equall move in any other c irection.

The cushioning or absorption means operating in conjunction with thejournal boxes is here shown as comprising a bank or groupv of elongatedplate springs 14 interposed between the top oi each journal box and theunderside or' the correspondingy extension 4, thel springs beingrepresented as having their concave sides uppermost With the center oi'thelovvermost plate engaging upon the journal box and the ends ot theuppermost plate engaging against the underside ot the extension 4.Ubviously, means must be provided for pre* venting dislocationv of 4thecushioning means and for this reason the ends or the plate springs are.shown as Jformed with notches 15 for the accommodation of the bolts,these notches opening out to the endsy of the plate springs; The arm 6above referred to is really'a journaljbox tie and the tiexibilitythereof is utilized in combinations with the bank of springs.

In addition to the above structure, I may provide a single platev spring17 beneath the arm or tie bar 6 an-d arranged With its convex upper sideengaging against the underside of the arm or tie. bar. the ends beingformed with notches for the accommodation of the bolts 9, as illustratedin Figure 2, this plate spr-ing 17 Both ends of the side frame are ofAapparent that it cannot acting simply asV a bolt tensioning spring.Obviously, the springs 14 and 17 may be provided With holes 18, as inFigure 3, instead of V notches, if desired. Y

In Figures 4, 5'and 6 I have illustrated the invention as applied to aside ramekoi the pedestal type, the side frame 19 yhaving an opening 2()therein withinvvhich isvertically slidably mounted a ournal box Q1, thej ournal box having laterally extending flanges or Webs Q2 overlying theopposite faces of the side trame :tor limiting its movement to thevertical'. In applying the invention to this type ot journal box andmounting, use ismade orn a group or bank of elongated or plate springs23 located between the journal box and thc top wall of the opening 20,the preferred arrangement being that the springs be disposed with theirconcave sidesupperinost, the ends of the topmostbearing against the topWall of the opening andthe center of the lowermost bearingupon the'topof the journal box, Clearly, it is necessary to provide means forretaining the, springs in place and' this means may conveniently consistof vertical ribs 24ormed on the confronting vsides or" the opening 2Oand engaging Within notches 25 vin the ends of the springs.

Instead of this retaining means, or in Adition thereto, the journal boxmay be formed at its top with spaced upstanding lugs 26 located atopposite sides of' the bank or group of springs, as clearly indicated inFigure 6. rFhe springs in any instance may be of any desired shape asfor instance they may be rectangular as indicated in Figures 1 and 6 orI may make use of those of a hexagonal shape as indicated in Figure5, inWhich event the upstanding guide lugs 26, on the journal boxes would beomitted, the guide means for the springs consisting then only of theribs 24 engaging Within the notches in the springs'.

The advantage in using springsl of the shape shown in FigureV 5 issimply the increase in the area thereof as compared with the area of theelongated rectangular type. It ymight also. be mentioned that ifV theupstand-ing guide lugs E26 are used as spring retaining means the ribs.24 and notches 25 may be omitted as either means is suilieient untoitself. l Y

. In Figures.. T, 8 and 9 I have disclosed yet another modification inwhich the side frame 28 has its end extension 29 formed With a pocket 30opening' out to the end of the extension. The side4 frame is formed withan opening 31 Within which is vertically slid-V ably mounted the.journal box 32 which is provided With laterally extendingl Webs, angesor the like 33: engaging against the opposite faces o the side frame forguiding e purposes. The pocket 3) communicates with the. opening 31 andis of greater length than the Width of the. opening to provide ledges 34nal box, theends yof the uppermost plate in ythe bank engagingthese'ledges,and the cener than'the center of the top wall or' thepocket 'as' vclearly indicated in Figure 7.

The cushioning or absorption means in this instancecomprises a group orbank of elongated plate springs 86 littingwithin the pocket 80 andbetween the ledges 35 and the jourter of the lowermost plate engagingupon a convex* bearing member 37V which may be rformed integrally uponthe top of vthe our- .nal'bo'xor which maybe constructed as a separatepiece secured thereon, this detail being-immaterial. y fnthjeassembling'ot the parts, itis apparent'thatthe groupwv or bank'of'springs 86 is introduced through the open end of thepocket,gsubsequently to which the openingr is intended to be closed asby'means of an Y angular closuremember 38 fitted into the open end andsecured as by bolts 39. The ledges 34 above mentioned serve as'means forsupportingthe springs within the pocket in casethe journal box iswithdrawn entirely from engagement with the side frame, itbeingmanitestly impossible for the springs to drop out. The purpose ofthe convex bearing` ymember 37 is to cause flexure of the springsupwardly under load conditions.

In' the operation of all forms of the invention, it will be readilyapparent that under load conditions the plate springs will be iiexed toassist the bolster supporting springs. In the form of the inventiondisclosed in Figures l and l the bringing of a load upon the springsoperates to flatten them from their normal curved shape whereas in theform disclosed in Figure 7 the weight acts to flex the springs out oftheir initial flat condition. The eect is the same in either instanceinasmuch as movement of the j ournal boxes is resiliently opposed. Asthese v.springsare auxiliary to the bolster supporting springs it isclear that the spring capacity of the car equipped with the inventionwill be materially increased so that greater loads may be carriedwithout danger of brmgmg Vundue strain upon any of the parts. The

plate springs operating in conjunction with or in addition to thebolster supporting spring will Lhave the additional effect of preventingjiggling and eliminating car roll or side sway in view of the .fact thatsynchronism is avoided as the periodicity of the two types of springs isentirely different. In every form of the invention it is evident that alarger or smaller number of plate springs may be used depending uponcircumstances or other conditions which may develop in theactual-'carrying out of the invention. Am'- ple means has been providedfor guiding the should be understood that the disclosure is merelyillustrative of the general principles involved and certainpossibilities in the matterof design and arrangement. /It should ofcourse be understood that the right is reserved to make all suchchanges, variations or modiications as will'widen the iield of utilityprovided such constitute no departure from the spirit of the inventionor the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

Having thus kdescribed the invention, I claim: j

1. In combination with a truck side frame of the arch bar type, platelspring cushioned journal boxes carried by the side frame.

`2. In a railway car truck having a side frame and a f spring supportedbolster mounted within a window opening in the side frame, journalboxes, and plate spring means located above and cushioning the journalboxes. n j

k3. In a railway car truck having a side trame and a spring supportedbolster mounted within a window opening in the side frame, journalboxes, plate spring means located above and cushioning the journalboxes,

and retaining means for said spring means.

4. In a railway car truck having a side frame formed with a windowopening for the reception of a spring supported bolster, a journal boxvertically movably mounted at each end ot the side frame, means forguiding the journal box during its vertical movement and preventingmovement thereot in any other direction, and a bank of plate springs.located between the top of the journal box and the adjacent portion ofthe side frame, said springs operating in conjunction with the bolstersupporting springs for increasing the spring capacity.

5. In a railway car truck having a side frame formed with a windowopening for the reception of a spring supported bolster, a journal boxvertically movably mounted at each end ofthe side frame, meansforguiding the journal box during its vertical movement and preventingmovement thereoic in any other direction, and a bank of plate springslocated between the top of the journaly box and theadjacent portion' ofthe side frame, said springs operating in conjunction with'the, bolstersupporting springsfor increasingthe spring capacity and having vaperiodicity of vibration diiterent from that of the bolstersupportingsprings'to break up synchronism of the latter.

liao

i. ln combination with a truck side trame of the type having a windowopening for the reception of a truckbolster and spring supporti-ng meanstherefor, journal boxes vertically slidably mounted at the ends `of theside frame, and ,plate spring means supporting the side trame upon thejournal boxes, said second named spring means acting in conjunction withthe tirst named. spring means and having a periodicity diiierent inatecar roll.

7. A `railway car truck side frame provided at. its ends with guidemeans and abutment means, a journal box vertically slidably mountedalong the guide 4means at each end, a bank of plate springs arranged inengagement with veach journal box and the adjacent abutment means, andmeans` Jfor retaining the plate springs against displacement.

8. A tr-uckfside frame provided at each end with an `opening and apocket commu-` nicating therewith, a journal box 'verticallyslidablymounted withiny the. opening, and a pluralityv of plate springsarranged superposed relation within the pocket and engaged by thejournal box.

9. A truck side trame provided at each end with an opening and a pocketcommunicating therewith, a journal box vertically slidably mountedwithin the opening, a plurality of plate springs arrangedinV superposedrelation within the pocket and engaged by the journal box, the pocketopening out to the end of the side frame, yand means for closing saidopen end of the pocket.

10. A truck side frame provided lat each en dwithan opening and a pocketcommunicating therewith, aA journal box vertically slidably mountedwithin the opening, and apluralityof plate springs arranged insuperposed relation within the pocket and engaged by the. journal box,the pocket having a length greater than the width of the opening todefine retaining ledges acting to prevent dropping down of the `platesprings beyond a certain point upon removal of the journal box. y

ll. A truck side frame provided at each end with an opening and a pocketcommunicating therewith, ajournal box vertically siidahly mounted withinthe opening, a plu` rality et plate springs arranged in superposedrelation within the pocket and engaged bythe journal box, the pocketbeing .formed at its ends with ledges located below the top of thepocket Jfor engagement by the ends of the topmostv plate springo' the Q0bank, and the journal box having al convex upper surtacebearing againstythe center of therefrom to break up synchronism and elim-` a journal boxvertically slidably mounted Y Y within the j awl portion, and a bank ofplate springs located within thepocket in engagementwith the top ofthe'journal box andy removable from the end' of the pocket.

end with anopening and a pocket thereabove, a journal box verticallyslidably mounted within the opening, a bank of Vplate springs locatedwithin the 'pocket and engaged by thejournal box, and means for limitingdownward movement of the springs to pre vent dropping out uponremoval ofthe journal box. 14. A truck side frame provided at each end with anopening, a journal box slidably mounted within the'opening,a bankofplate' 15. A truck side framer provided at each end with an openingkand a pocket communica'ting therewith, ajournal box vertically slidablymounted within thevropening, a bank of plate springs within the pocketengaged by the journal box, abutment shoulders at the top of the pocketengagedby the springs, movement limiting ledges at the bottom of thepocket for preventing dropping down of the springs, the bolster havingasecond open-k ing leading into the'pocket permitting intro# duction orremoval ofthe springs.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

PERGY R. DRENNING.

the underside Vof the lowermost plate spring.

12- A. side trame provided at f each end with a downwardly opening jawportion and g5 formed with a pocket abovthejaw portion,

13. A truck side frame provided Vat each 0

